Chrysanthemum plant named Majesty

ABSTRACT

A new Chrysanthemum cultivar named Majesty, characterized by the combined features of flat capitulum form, daisy capitulum type, light pink ray floret color, capitulum diameter of 80-90 cm, a response period of 59-63 days, a plant height of 91-102 cm when grown with 14 long days prior to start of short days, and inverted pyramid flower formation.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Majesty.

Majesty was originated from a cross made by the inventor, Barrie J.Machin, in a controlled breeding program in Fareham, England in 1986.

The female parent of Majesty was a seedling known as Sugar, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,776, and described as a cut spray single mum daisytype having a pink ray floret color, a diameter of capitulum of 76 to 86mm when fully open, a flowering response to short days of 61-63 days, aplant height of 86-96 cm when grown with 14 long days prior to start ofshort days, a peduncle length of the first lateral of 8 to 15 cm and ofthe fourth lateral of 15-20 cm, and a terminal spray formation. Theabove characteristics are based on plants grown in Fareham, England.

The male parent of Majesty was a seedling identified as Delta, disclosedin Plant Pat. No. 5,815, and described as a single mum daisy type havinga pink ray floret color, diameter of capitulum of 80 mm, a floweringresponse of 63 days, a plant height of 90 cm when grown with 14 longdays prior to start of short days, a peduncle length of the firstlateral of 8 cm and of the fourth lateral of 12 cm, and a flat oninverted triangle spray formation. The above characteristics are basedon plants grown in Fareham, England.

Majesty was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Barrie J. Machin in March 1986 in acontrolled environment in Fareham, England.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Majesty was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in June 1986in a controlled environment in Fareham, England by Barrie J. Machin.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Majesty are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Majesty has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Fareham, England under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Majesty, which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. Light pink ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 80-90 mm when fully opened.

5. Flowering response under normal temperatures is 59 to 63 days afterstart of short days.

6. Plant height is 91 to 102 cm when grown with 14 long days prior tostart of short days.

7. Peduncle length of the first lateral at flowering after removing theapical bud and without growth regulator applications is 9.5 cm; pedunclelength of the fourth lateral at flowering is 12.5 cm.

8. Flower formation is at approximately the same height since lowerlaterals are longer than upper laterals. This gives the effect of aninverted pyramid shape.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Majesty, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Majesty grown as a single stem spraycut mum.

Sheet 2 and 3 are black and white photographs showing the upper andunder sides respectively of the leaves of Majesty in three stages ofdevelopment (mature, intermediate and immature).

Sheet 4 is a black and white photograph showing three views of theinflorescence of Majesty.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Majesty is the commercially well-known cultivar identifiedas Pink Marble. Reference is made to attached Chart A, which comparescertain characteristics of Majesty with the same characteristics of PinkMarble. Similar traits are capitulum form, type and diameter, response,and spray formation. The ray floret color of both cultivars is describedas pink, but Majesty is a deeper pink color than Pink Marble. Further,plant height and length of laterals is substantially less for Majesty.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a single spray cut mum in Fareham, England inJune 1986.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Majesty.

Commercial.--Daisy spray cut mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--80-90 mm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Pink.

Color (upper surface).--56A.

Color (under surface).--56C.

Shape.--Curving and pointed.

Quantity.--Approximately 20 per flower arranged in two layers.

C. Disc florets:

Diameter.--12-17 mm.

Color.--Immature, 143C; mature, 13A.

Quantity.--Approximately 200 per flower.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on ray florets; very small quantity of pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on disc and ray florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--91-102 cm.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--137B.

Color (under surface).--137C.

Shape.--Five (5) main lobes, broadly toothed, typically 6-8 teeth perlobe; teeth taper to a point. See photos.

C. Habit: Regular branching habit, typically one branch developing perleaf axil; flowers are produced at the top of the inflorescence whichtypically contains 8-10 flowers; flower pedicels are at angles of 45° orless to the stems.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS SINGLE                                    STEM SPRAY CUT MUMS IN FAREHAM, ENGLAND                                       CHARACTERISTICS                                                                             MAJESTY      PINK MARBLE                                        ______________________________________                                        Ray floret color                                                                            Pink         Pink                                               Capitulum form                                                                              Flat Daisy   Flat Daisy                                         and type                                                                      Diameter across face                                                                        80 to 90 mm  80 to 90 mm                                        of capitulum                                                                  Flowering Response                                                                          59 to 63 days                                                                              56 to 63 days                                      Plant height  91 to 102 cm 111 to 120 cm                                      Peduncle length:                                                              1st lateral   9.5 cm       12 cm                                              4th lateral   12.5 cm      16 cm                                              Spray formation                                                                             Inverted pyramid                                                                           Inverted pyramid                                   ______________________________________                                    

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Majesty,as described and illustrated.